Chapter 507: Military Parade – Third Era
March 27, 1790 — Suburbs of Isdalia, Plains Military Exercise Ground
“Military Parade is about to begin—”
“Please remain within the designated Audience Stands. Unauthorized entry into the military exercise zone is strictly prohibited. Consequences will follow.”
The voice of the Tiefling Captain of the Guard echoed through the loudspeakers, as the Imperial Guard cleared every inch of the ten-mile radius. Only two designated zones remained open for spectators.
Tiefling soldiers, rifles in hand, stood in perfect formation along the perimeter, their presence a rigid barrier against any attempt to barge in.
Though the parade had not yet begun, the atmosphere was already electric. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, discussing the looming war and the grand spectacle to come.
“Such a massive field…”
“Will His Majesty truly attend?”
People from across the Empire—indeed, from every corner of the world—had gathered, pressing shoulder to shoulder along the sidelines, eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting for the Emperor’s arrival.
This grand Military Parade was no ordinary display. It marked the Empire’s preparations for war against the Demons, and with official propaganda amplifying its significance, it drew hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Still, it fell short of the spectacle that had once shaken the entire Feanso Continent during the Coronation Ceremony.
At the far end of the training ground stood a temporary High Platform, conjured by magic—so large it resembled a small hill. This was the throne prepared for the Red Dragon.
Suddenly, a distant roar erupted, layered with the howl of wind.
“Look! It’s the Dragonfly Legion!”
“Kai Xiusu above!”
“This is breathtaking!”
Gazing upward, the crowd saw hundreds of two-headed dragons gathering on the skyline, flapping their wings in chaotic unison, like a dense storm cloud blotting out half the sky.
At the forefront, a monstrous Wyvern led the formation—a creature over fifteen meters long. Had it not been for its bipedal stance, scholars might have mistaken it for a true Red Dragon.
Its long neck arched upward as it unleashed a deep, rasping roar.
“Awooo—”
This was the chieftain of the Dragonfly Legion—the Emperor of the Ashen Flame’s own kin, Marquis Shimao Ge.
On the audience stands, Adroville lifted his glasses, adjusting them with a steady hand. His expression was grave, eyes locked on the sky.
“The bloodline concentration… it’s nearing true dragon status. This Wyvern possesses strength rivaling that of a young Silver Dragon—perhaps even an adult.”
Boom! Boom!
Woooon—
A deep tremor shook the ground, like war drums pounding beneath the earth. Then came the unmistakable, piercing whistle of steam engines.
“That’s—”
“It’s the Earth-Drake Corps!”
“No… not just Earth-Crawling Dragonbeasts. There’s something else! That sound—whistle! That’s the steam!”
From the horizon, a thick, churning plume of steam rose, accompanied by the rumble of approaching ground tremors. From within the fog emerged colossal shapes.
First came a dozen mountain-sized Earth-Crawling Dragonbeasts, armored in thick iron plates, each carrying a division of Great Goblins on their backs, bellowing low, guttural roars.
“I know that one! That’s Blackrock! It crushed an entire Northern Regions Knight Regiment in the past!”
These were elite beasts, meticulously cultivated on the Storm Slope Pasture—battle-hardened, each one the equivalent of a mobile fortress.
But this was only the beginning.
Twelve chilling Mechanical Beasts surged forth from the steam cloud, rolling forward with surprising speed despite their immense size. Their legs were not limbs—but high-speed treads.
Instead of heads, their fronts bore heavy armor emblazoned with the Imperial Emblem, coldly gleaming rams, and massive, root-thick cannon muzzles that sent shivers down the spine.
“This… this is—”
“It’s a Steam Tank!”
“Kai Xiusu above! Wasn’t this only ever a design on paper? The Imperial Technology Department actually built it?!”
A citizen subscribed to Military newspaper stared in disbelief.
In truth, these Steam Tanks were not the work of players. Baron Gilmore Sparo of the Imperial Technology Department had drawn upon knowledge from the fallen Stellarfallen, personally designing and constructing these iron beasts—equipped with rams and steam cannons.
To honor the old dragon beast Galar, fallen in battle during the Northern War, they were named the Old Pal Class.
Military officials across the Empire agreed: compared to the slow-moving, food-guzzling Earth-Crawling Dragonbeasts, these mechanical horrors were far more devastating—and far more efficient.
This was the first time the public had witnessed the Steam Tanks in full display, and the impact was staggering.
“By the gods…”
“This is insane!”
“Kai Xiusu above! Even Demons would be crushed beneath these iron monsters!”
Two-headed dragons filled the sky. Giant beasts marched across the earth. Cannons roared. Artillery fire thundered. And beyond the horizon, more armies continued to arrive.
“Bahamut above…”
Adroville stared, his face growing darker with each passing moment.
From sheer majesty alone, the Army of the Ashen Empire now stood equal to the Sacred Fedran of old.
At last, he understood why Jennyhis had once held such deep reverence—almost terror—for this nation. He now grasped why the people of the Empire were so euphoric.
With an army like this… what was there to fear from failure?
Beside him, Jennyhis stood silent, her eyes fixed on the sky. Her shoulders trembled faintly. Her expression was tense, as if waiting for something.
She pressed a hand to her chest, as though to steady her racing heart.
The parade had barely begun—but the Empire’s military might was already undeniable.
And where was the Emperor?
Hee-hee… hee-hee…
Heavy, labored breathing echoed across the field as Ogre Artillery units dragged massive, heavy cannons into the exercise ground. They settled into position, aligning their muzzles toward the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Artillery fire erupted. Shells shot skyward, bursting high above in a synchronized explosion, splitting the air into two neat rows of blazing flame clouds. The sky turned a deep, fiery orange.
These were the Empire’s Salute Shells—designed to create dazzling, radiant fire displays.
The flame clouds surged like waves, rising and swirling until they formed a towering, winding road of fire and smoke—stretching across half the heavens.
“ROOOOAAARRR—”
A deafening roar split the sky and earth. All eyes turned toward the horizon.
There, emerging from the edge of the world, was an immense silhouette.
The Red Dragon hovered in the air, its pale golden eyes sweeping over the land below.
With each slow, deliberate beat of its vast wings, hurricane-force winds surged along its flanks, carrying swirling flames. Every spark of fire in the air seemed to tremble, dance, and rise in response.
—The Supreme Ruler of the Empire, Emperor Kai Xiusu of the Ember Empire, had finally arrived.
“Kai Xiusu above!”
“Praise Kai Xiusu!”
“He’s really here!”
On the audience stands, the Empire’s citizens gazed upward, their faces alight with devotion and ecstasy. Hands clasped in prayer, eyes closed, lips moving in silent hymns—as if witnessing the descent of a god.
“Bahamut above… what is this?”
Adroville swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had never imagined a Red Dragon of such scale.
Even as a Prime Silver Dragon, he was no larger than a hatchling compared to this Emperor.
No wonder his revered uncle had once defeated him. This dragon had long transcended the boundaries of ordinary draconic life.
And Jennyhis—still clutching her chest—remained frozen, her eyes wide, heart pounding.
She stared upward, her blue-gray irises reflecting the dancing flames… and the colossal silhouette of the Dragon.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
